The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-07
Costly Ancient Blades.

P'0y Au0ny SuVA4uo WcdpOAS, says liz
Pail Mall Gazette. There are genuin,
specimens of the famous Andrea Fer
rara, which were so priced in Scotland
in the old fighting days, and which arr
now used to some extent by officers
in the British army. The quality
these swords show how little effect
time has upon good metal and sound
workmanship. Claymores hang on the
walls beside the formidable I.ocha
Der ak. A huge Swiss two-handed
sword, which it must have taker
a giant to WELD, did service in
the fourteenth century against the
Austrians. Even one of the famous
Damascus blades is in the catalogue
When Timur Lung conqured Syria in
the beginning of the fifteenth century
he carried off all the manufacturers
of steel into Persia, and their success
sors, having been dispersed all owe,
the east, are said to have lost the Sc
cret of making blades of more than
ordinary quality, since which time the
manufacture of genuine Damascus
blades has declined, although there
are many limitations. With respect
to the genuine blades it must be re
membered that a good deal of exag
geration has been INDUCED in. At the
time when the natives OF the east were
well acquainted with the art of work
ing in iron and steel we, and indeed ali
Europe, were in state of perfect ig
norance. When the old Damascus
blades were therefore opposed
to those of Other countries
they were found to be infinitely
superior in temper and quality, and
the extraordinary prices that were of
tered and paid for them (often as
much as f5OO) sufficiently attest the
estimation in which they were held.
In the present day swords of equal OF
superior quality are manufactured at
one-hundredth part of the cost. In
some respects the best even OF our
present light regulation blades are at
a disadvantage when opposed to the
heavy curved eastern cimeter, but
they have the advantage that they
can be used for thrusting, which, al
though unknown i'll eastern swords.
manshlp, is by far the most deadly
form of attack. A European cuts on
ly or mainly from the wrist, knowing
that If he lifts the arm too far from
its position OF guard ne exposes him.
self to thrust that would probably
be fatal. On the other hand, an east.
ern swordsman, who seldom
guards himself with his sword, but
is provided with shield and gaunt.
let's to resist cut, has his
sword ground as sharp as razor and
cuts from the shoulder only, bringing
into action all the strong muscles Of
the forearm and back, the small hilt
OF his sword allowing no play what.
ever to the wrist. AZ to the jowher
or water of the genuine Damascus
blade this is attributable to the ma.
ture OF the iron ore used and the
method OF converting it into STEEL
The late Mr.. Henry Wilkinson went
thoroughly INTO the question, and OBJ.
tanned specimens of Indian wootz OF
cake steel, and proved by making
blades from it that the figure so
sought after existed IN the steel ITSELF
and to be developed required only the
action of light AID a chemical called
kusees.
Among other curiosities worth not.
ing is a fierce Mahratta weapon call
ed a wakdah, or tiger claw, which the
user holds in his hand, affixed by two
rings to his fingers. With traitor
Gus embrace he clasps his victim and
tears him open. A knife penetrating
Il dollar is q reminder of the old
Spanish buccaneers test of the sound.
ness OF his blade, and g. proof of the
quality Of the steel of the day.